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63
11th Hour, The Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies. |
American Psycho
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MPAA RATING: R for strong violence, sexuality, drug use and language
Starring Christian Bale, Willem DaFoe, Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, and Chloe Sevigny
Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis and featuring the sounds of Huey Lewis and other classic early 80s gems, this satire set in 1980s Manhattan follows the dual life of Patrick Bateman (Bale), zealously materialistic and misogynisitc Wall Street executive by day, murdering sociopath by night.
| GENRE(S): | Suspense/Thriller |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Bret Easton Ellis (novel)
Mary Harron Guinever Turner |
| DIRECTED BY: | Mary Harron |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: September 5, 2000 Video: September 5, 2000 Theatrical: April 14, 2000 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 100 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | Canada / USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Orson O. gave it a10:
THE best film of 2000. Screw the stupid anti-suburban (its been done before better) American Beauty. American Psycho satirizes 90s materialistic narcisitic emptiness. People with wants, needs, and no ability to connect. Brilliant. Now "Feed me the kitty!"
Graham M. gave it a9:
First of all, this is a satire, not a comedy. Do not get those two very different things mixed up. Second, this is not a standard slasher movie, infact its hard to call this a slasher movie. This is not like a teen horror flick, such as freddy or Jason or Scream, This is far more sophisticated and intelligent. This is an intelligent film with very interesting characters and performances by great actors such as Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe as well as Reese Witherspoone. Once you start watching this film, it will be hard to look away because the beginnging sucks you right in with Bale's characters narration. To be honest, this isnt the goriest movie ever, far from it, this film has tension and suggests allot of the violence without showing. The ending is very thought provoking and will make you want to watch it through again, because to understand what happens, once isnt enough.
Ryan M. gave it an8:
Great book, good movie. One can only imagine what this movie could've been if tackled from a deeper, darker, artier style. Effective as satire and a look of the 80's, but could've been slightly edgier that delves into the twists and turns of the mind. Not bad though for a major release. Bale was excellently cast.
matt a. gave it a9:
People who call this movie childish and over the top really don't get the movie, and more than likely have not read or are not familiar with the source material, Bret Easton Ellis's brilliant novel. This is satire folks. And damn good satire at that. Christian Bale gave what I consider to be the best performance by a child actor in Empire Of the Sun, and here he shows that he still has talent that is equal to and even in many cases surpassing those of his generation.
Chad S. gave it a7:
When "American Psycho" goes off the rails with Patrick Bateman's imitation of Leatherface, you wonder if Charlie Kaufman was taking notes. If you credited the bogus screenwriting team of Charlie & Donald Kaufman to Mary Harron's film; the Robert McKee disciple would find Charlie's satirization of the eighties and its Wall Street suits who could listen to Huey Lewis & the News without irony great (Donald loves his brother, after all), but he would want to kick it up a notch by having Patrick go on a shooting spree and use his victim's apartment as a slaughterhouse. The commercially-minded Kaufman would make Patrick sorry for his crimes by reason of insanity, not because he wants this American psycho to skirt responsibility, but more out of a final fruition of what McKee teaches, the character arc, in which Bateman starts off unsympathetic and makes his way across the spectrum to redemption. Charlie, however, subverts Donald's intentions with an appearance by Ronald Reagan on CNN, explaining the Iran-Contra affair, to show how the Republicans, like Patrick, got away with murder. "American Psycho" plays like a precursor to "Adaptation", and deserves a second look. Another reason being, of course, a broad example of why other countries would hate us.
Craig B. gave it a 10:
This is a very worthy film version of Bret Easton Ellis' stunning novel. The director does an excellent job of capturing the book's tone, effectively bluring the line between reality and the morbid fantasies of Patrick Bateman. The movie is well cast, and all of the performances are beyond reproach.
Ninjs Mafia gave it an 8:
More of a comedy than a horror movie, American Psycho is good if you have a sick mind mind and understand some of its weird humor. The movie follows a man, Patrick Bateman, who one day goes over the edge and kills someone. He then goes on a mad cap killing spree. Nothing too deep, although the ending was kind of a mind screw. Where this movie shines though, is in its satirical look at the '80s and outstanding performances. Christian Bale plays one of the coolest killers in a horror movie ever. His calm and cool persona makes him seem even more sadistic when he does kill someone. Talking about killing, I did find some of the deaths in this movie to be hilarious. When Bateman starts dancing around behind a colleague of his and picks up and ax, then procceeds to dance back and stick the ax in his friends head was one of the most memorable deaths in this movie. Also funny, is how Bateman continues to tell people how he kills everyone, and everyone just takes it as though he is joking. a Really cool, slick, and funny horror movie that should deserve some attention.
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